Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Bu-Ali Sina University

Abstract

Introduction: Pesticides are considered as the most important pollutants in surface water and groundwater. Neonicotinoids are new group of insecticides, derived from nicotine. Their physicochemical properties render them useful for a wide range of application techniques, including foliar, seed treatment, soil drench and stem applications. Confidor, the representative of the first generation of neonicotinoid insecticides, was patented in 1985 by Bayer and was placed on the market in 1991. The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency considers confidor to have high potential for surface water contamination, leaching to groundwater and persistence in soils. Biodegradation is one of the most effective ways to destroy pesticides in the environment. The application of Bioremediation techniques is taken into consideration as an option to reduce or remove pollutants from the environment due to their low cost, high efficiency and environmentally friendly features. Bioremediation by using microorganisms has not any adverse effect after cleanup. The accumulator microorganism species, haven’t pathogenic properties and aren’t the cause of disease on the other organisms. The selection of a biomass for using in bioremediation is very important, it should be abundant in environment and adapted to environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of various species of Trichoderma fungi to remove Confidor from contaminated water influenced by variables like pH, concentration of the confidor and time.
Materials and Methods: In order to conduct this study three different fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma were used. The samples were transferred to PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) sterile solid media for in vitro testing usage. The samples were kept in refrigerator at 4◦C temperature, after the fungal biomass reached to maximal growth; the colonies were transferred to new media and used in our experiments as resources. After complete fungal growth on the solid media, liquid media were prepared with the formula containing 250 g/l potato extract, 20 g/l dextrose and 0.25 g/l Tetracycline antibiotic (to prevent bacteria growth) in three pH (5,7,9) and three toxicant concentrations (1, 3 and 5 mg/l). Lactic acid and KOH (3%) were used to adjust pH in the prepared media. The degradation experiments were performed in a 50 ml falcon for 1 month. All experiments were maintained under similar conditions. The samples were shacken daily. After 1 month of incubation, aliquots (2 ml) were removed; centrifuged and the supernatants were used for the estimation of concentration of residual confidor by spectrophotometer. The results were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results and Discussion: According to the results T.harzianum with 60.34% confidor removal had the highest ability and T.tomentosum with 44.60% had the lowest ability to biological degradation of confidor from the polluted waters. The maximum confidor removal (75.89%) using T.harzianum was accrued to acidic media with 5 mg/l of confidor. The minimum confidor removal (53.09%) using T.asperellum was accrued to alkaline media with 1 mg/l of confidor. Using T.tomentosum the efficiency of confidor removal in media with pH=5 and concentration of 5 mg/l was increased by 10.95% and 15.63% compared to the environments with the concentrations of 3 and 1 mg/l, respectively. In the media containing T.harzianum, the percentage of confidor removal after 4 weeks was increased by 46.21% Compared to the first week. In the media containing T.harzianum, T.asperellum and T.tomentosum, the percentage of confidor removal after 4 weeks was increased by 46.21%, 37.06% and 32.84% respectively, Compared to the first week. Totally, the results showed that all the fungi species are capable to remove confodor. Toxicant concentration increasing from 1 mg/l to 5 mg/l, results in increasing the percentage of toxicant removal. The results of confidor removal from mediums with different pH demonstrated that in all studied fungi, toxicant removal at pH=5 is higher than other pH. The results obtained from this study confirm the hypothesis of positive effect of passing the time on confidor removal efficiency by different Trichoderma species.
Conclusions: In general, we can conclude that three species of studied Trichoderma in this research can be applied for bioremediation of agricultural waters which are contaminated by confidor. As a result, by collecting the agricultural water that are contaminated with confider and application of these fungi as biological purifiers, we will access to a considerable amount of non-conventional water resources to irrigate of downstream. It is noteworthy that Trichoderma species in addition to the biorefinery potential of pollutants , are able to improve soil structure and increase plant resistance.

Keywords

1- Abo-Amer Aly E. 2010. Biodegradation of Diazinon by Serratia marcescens DI 101 and its Use in Bioremediation of Contaminated Environment. Journal of microbilogy and Biotechnology, 21(1):71-80.
2- Anand P., Isar J., Saran S., and Saxena R.K. 2006. Bioaccumulation of copper by Trichoderma viride. Bioresource technology, 97:1018-1025.
3- Ang EL., Zhao H., and Obbard J.P. 2005. Recent advances in the bioremediation of persistent organic pollutants via biomolecular engineering. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 37:487-96.
4- Arias-Este´vez M., Lo´pez-Periago E., Martı´nez-Carballo E., Jesu´s S., Juan-Carlos M., and Luis G. 2008. The mobility and degradation of pesticides in soils and the pollution of groundwater resources. Ecosystems and Environment, 123:247–260.
5- Arias-Este´vez M., Soto-Gonza´lez B., Lo´pez-Periago E., Cancho-Grande B., and Simal-Ga´ndara J. 2005. Atrazine sorption dynamics in organic matter rich-soils. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75:264–271.
6- Baheri H., and Meysami P. 2002. Feasibility of fungi bioaugmentation in composting a flare pit soil. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 89:279-286.
7- Bahrami B., Mohsenzadeh F., and Ranjbar A. 2014. Diazinon biological removal of contaminated soils by Trichoderma harzianum. The first Conference of Bioremediation, Sharif University, Iran. (in Persian)
8- Ballesteros Martin M.M., Sanches Perez J.A., Casas Lopez J.L., Oller I., and Malato Rodriguez S. 2009. Degradation of a four-pesticide mixture by combined photo-Fenton and biological oxidation. Water Research, 43:653–660.
9- Bavcon Kralj M., Cˇernigoj U., Franko M., and Trebše P. 2007. Comparison of photocatalysis and photolysis of malathion, isomalathion, malaoxon, and commercial malathion-Products and toxicity studies. Water Research, 41:4504-4514.
10- Bourgin M., Violleau F., Debrauwer L., and Albet J. 2011. Ozonation of imidacloprid in aqueous solutions: Reaction monitoring and identification of degradation products. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 190:60–68.
11- Briceño G., Fuentes M., Palma G., Jorquera M., Amoroso M., and Diez M. 2012. Chlorpyrifos biodegradation and 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol production by actinobacteria isolated from soil. International Biodegradation, 73:1-7.
12- Burrows H.D., Canle M.L., Santaballa J.A., and Steenken S. 2002. Reaction pathwaysand mechanisms of photodegradation of pesticides. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, 67:71–108.
13- Calza P., Massolino C., and Pelizzetti E. 2008. Light induced transformations of selected organophosphorus pesticides on titanium dioxide: pathways and by-products evaluation using LC–MS technique. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, 199 (1):42–49.
14- Cernigoj U., Lavrencˇicˇ Štangar U., and Trebše P. 2007. Degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides by different advanced oxidation processes and studying the effect of ozone on TiO2 photocatalysis. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 75:229–238.
15- Coa L., Jiang M., Zeng Z., Du A., Tan H., and Liu Y. 2008. Trichoderma atroviride F6 improve phytoextraction efficiency of mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Coss. Var. foliosa Bailey) in Cd, Nicontaminated soils. Chemosphere, 71:1769-1773.
16- COX C. 2001. Insecticide Fact Sheet. Journal of Pesticide Reform, 21:15-21.
17- Debarati P., Gunjan P., Janmejay P., and Rakesh V.J. 2005. Accessing Microbial Diversity for Bioremediation and Environmental Restoration. Trends in Biotechnology, 23(3):135-142.
18- Devi M.P., Reddy M.V., Juwarkar A. Sarma P.N., and Mohan S.R. 2011. Effect of Co-culture and Nutrients Supplementation on Bioremediation of Crude Petroleum Sludge. CLean – Soil, Air, Water, 39:900-907.
19- Dro_zd_zyn´ ski D. 2008. Studies on residues of pesticides used in rape plants protection in surface waters of intensively exploited arable lands in Wielkopolska province of Poland. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 15: 231–235.
20- Felsot A.S., Evans R.G., and Ruppert J.R. 1998. Distribution of imidacloprid in soil following subsurface drip chemigation. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 60:363-370.
21- Finley S.D., Broadbelt L.J., and Hatzimanikatis V. 2010. In Silico Feasibility of Novel Biodegradation Pathways for 1, 2, 4- Trichlorobenzene. BMC Systems Biology, 4(7):4-14.
22- Hamzah A., Abu Zarin M., Abdul Hamid A., Omar O., and Senafi S., 2012. Optimal physical and nutrient parameters for growth of Trichoderma virens UKMP-1M for heavy crude oil degradation. Sains Malaysiana, 41(1):71–79.
23- Head I.M., and Swannell, R.P. 1999. Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in marine habitats. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 10:234-239.
24- Jain R.K., Kapur M., Labana S., Lal B., Sarma P.M., Bhattacharya D., and Thakur I.S. 2005. Microbial Diversity: Application of Microorganisms for the Biodegradation of Xenobiotics. Current Science, 89(1):101-112.
25- Jemec A., Tišler T., Drobne D., Sepcˇic´ K., Fournier D., and Trebše P. 2007. Comparative toxicity of imidacloprid, of its commercial liquid formulation and of diazion to a non-target arthropod, the microcrustacean Daphnia magna. Chemosphere, 68:1408–1418.
26- Jin S. and Fallgren P.H. 2007. Site-specific limitations of using urea as nitrogen source in biodegradation of petroleum wastes. Soil and Sediment Contamination, 16(5):497-505.
27- Konstantinou I.K., and Albanis T.A. 2003. Photocatalytic transformation of pesticides in aqueous titanium dioxide suspensions using artificial and solar light: intermediates and degradation pathways. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 42:319–335.
28- Lambropoulou D.A., Konstantinou I.K., Albanis T.A., and Fernandez-Alba A.R. 2011. Photocatalytic degradation of the fungicide Fenhexamid in aqueous TiO2 suspensions: identification of intermediates products and reaction pathways. Chemosphere, 83:367–378.
29- Liebeg E.W., and Cutright T.J. 1999. The investigation of enhanced bioremediation through the addition of macro and micro nutrients in a PAH contaminated soil. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 44:55-64.
30- Lo´pez-Blanco C., Cancho-Grande B., Simal-Ga´ndara J., Lo´pez-Periago E., and Arias-Este´vez M. 2005. Transport of commercial endosulfan hrough a column of aggregated vineyard soil by a water flux simulating field conditions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53 (17):6738–6743.
31- Mai C., Schormann W., Majcherczyk A., and Hutterman A. 2004. Degradation of acrylic copolymers by white rot fungi. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 65: 479-487.
32- Mancera-Lopez M.E., Esparza-Garcia F., Chavez-Gomez B., Rodriguez-Vazquez R., Saucedo-Castaneda G., and Barrera-Cortes J. 2008. Bioremediation of an aged hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by a combined system of biostimulation–bioaugmentation with filamentous fungi. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 61:151-160.
33- Mandelbaum R.T., Allan D.L., and Wackett L.P. 1995. Isolation and Characterization of a Pseudomonas sp. That Mineralizes the S-Triazine Herbicide Atrazine. Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61:1451–1457.
34- Matsuda K., Buckingham S.D., Kleiner D., Rauh J.J., Garuso M., and Sattelle D.B. 2001. Neonicotinoids: insecticides acting on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 22:573–580.
35- Millar N.S., and Denholm, I. 2007. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: targets for commercially important insecticides. Invertebrate Neuroscience, 7:53–66.
36- Mohsenzadeh F., and Shahrokhi F. 2014. Biological removing of Cadmium from contaminated media by fungal biomass of Trichoderma species. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 2-7.
37- Navarro S., Vela N., and Navarro G. 2007. An overview on the environmental behaviour of pesticide residues in soils. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 5 357–37.
38- Nwuche C.O., and Ugoji E.O. 2008. Effect of heavy metal pollution on the soil microbial activity. Journal of Environmental Science, 5:409-414.
39- Obire O. and Anyanwu E.C. 2009. Impact of various concentrations of crude oil on fungal populations of soil. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 6(2): 211-218.
40- Ortega N.O., Nitschke M., Mouad A.M., Landgraf M.D., Rezende M.O., Seleghim M.H., Sette L.D., and Porto A.L. 2011. Isolation of Brazilian Marine Fungi Capable of Growing on DDD Pesticide. Biodegradation, 22:43-50.
41- Pascual S., Rico J.R., Cal A., and Melgarejo P. 1997. Ecophysiological factors affecting growth, sporulation and survival of the biocontrol agent Penicilliumoxalicum. Mycopathologia, 139:43–50.
42- Pradhan S., Singh S., and Rai L. C. 2007. Characterization of various functional groups present in the capsule of Microcystis and study of their role in biosorption of Fe, Ni and Cr. Bioresource Technology, 98:595-601.
43- Rezaii D., Haghnia Gh., Lakzian A., Khayatzadeh M., and Nasirli H. 2012. The study of herbicide Atrazine degradation using Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria as N and C source in vitro situation. Water and soil journal (Agricultural sciences and technologies), 25(4):799-806. (in Persian)
44- Rhodes C. J. 2014. Mycoremediation (bioremediation with fungi) –growing mushrooms to clean the earth. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, 26(3), 196-198.
45- Ruiz-Aguilar M.L., Fernandez-Sanchez J.M., Rodriguez-Vazquez R., and Poggi-Varaldo H. 2002. Degradation by white-rot fungi of high concentrations of PCB extracted from a contaminated soil. Advances in Environmental Research, 6:559-568.
46- Sasek (2003) Why mycoremediations have not yet come to practice. In Sasek V. et al. (Eds.) In: The utilization of bioremediation to reduce soil contamination: Problems and solutions, pp. 247-276. Kluwer Academis Publishers.
47- Shahrokhi F. 2013. The study of using Trichoderma species to absorb heavy metals from polluted environments. M.Sc. Thesis of Environment, Science Faculty, Azad University, Hamedan. (in Persian with English abstract)
48- Srivastava S., and Thakur I.S. 2006. Evaluation of bioremediation and detoxification potentiality of Aspergillus Niger for removal of hexavalent chromium in soil microcosm. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38:1904-1911.
49- Taghavi Ghaswmkhili F., Pirdashti H., Bahmanyar M., and Tajik Ghanbari M. 2012. The effect of Trichodermaharzianum on some of the growth characteristics of wheat in cadmium contaminated soil. The first national conference on strategies for achieving sustainable agriculture. 2012. Payame Nour University, Ahvaz, Iran. (in Persian)
50- United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. EPA 738-R-04-006.
51- Verdin A., Sahraoui A.L., and Durand R. 2004. Degradation of benzo pyrene by mitosporic fungi and extracellular oxidative enzymes. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 53: 65-70.
52- Vollner L., and Klotz D. 1997. Leaching and degradation of pesticides in groundwater layers In Environmental behaviour of crop protection chemicals. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
53- Wu R.J, Chen C.C., Lu C.S., Hsu P.Y,. and Chen M.H. 2010. Phorate degradation by TiO2 photocatalysis: parameter and reaction pathway investigations. Desalination, 250(3):869–875.
54- Younes M. and Galal-Gorchev H. 2000. Pesticides in drinking water a case study. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 38(1):87–90.
55- Zabar R., Komel T., Fabjan J., Bavcon Kralj M., and Treb P. 2012. Photocatalytic degradation with immobilised TiO2 of three selected neonicotinoid insecticides: Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. Chemosphere, 89:293–30.
CAPTCHA Image